First Cruise on Saturday...a couple of questions

[Goes211]

We are sailing on Liberty on Saturday for our first cruise ever! I have poured through many of the threads and have enjoyed reading everyone's experiences. I do have 2 questions that I haven't seen here though

 

1) My 15 yr old daughter would like to get her hair braided somewhere on our trip... we are doing the Eastern Caribbean. If so, do you know how much they might charge? I know her girlfriend had her hair braided in "Cocoa Quay" (sp?)on the Disney Cruise last year by a local???

 

2) Can you put signs on the outside of the stateroom doors? If yes, can I use magnets or would I have to tape them on?

 

Thank you, we are very excited to be leaving soon

Cher

[lori450]

Doors are metal, so magnets work great.

 

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to the braiding question. I do know they vary and I have seen some people bring their own comb so it is more sanitary. P.S. coco cay is a princess island - disney's is castaway cay and RCI has labadee) I know I've seen people get braids on the western itinerary, don't remember too much about eastern, though.

[firefly333]

Doors are metal, so magnets work great.

 

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to the braiding question. I do know they vary and I have seen some people bring their own comb so it is more sanitary. P.S. coco cay is a princess island - disney's is castaway cay and RCI has labadee) I know I've seen people get braids on the western itinerary, don't remember too much about eastern, though.

 

About hair braiding, be careful to get a total price first. Have heard a few stories where they charged per braid and made so many little tiny braids the price can run into the hundreds if you dont get a total quote first.

 

They will even do hair braiding on the ship I believe.

[Sue L]

Doors are metal, so magnets work great.

 

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to the braiding question. I do know they vary and I have seen some people bring their own comb so it is more sanitary. P.S. coco cay is a princess island - disney's is castaway cay and RCI has labadee) I know I've seen people get braids on the western itinerary, don't remember too much about eastern, though.

 

 

 

Actually Coco Cay and Labadee are BOTH RCL islands. Princess Cay is Princess's island and Half moon Cay is used by Carnival's brands.

[cccer]

I'm not sure about braiding and how much it costs, but it seems that you can get that done just about anywhere. As mentioned above, get a firm price before you do anything.

We have never had a sign on our door, but I have seen quite a few. I never looked how they hang them, but I think it is scotch tape, I don't think the doors are magnetic and they probably would fall off with the door closing.

Enjoy your first cruise. It is a great time.

[MKRacing66]

Goes211,

 

I'm not sure about your ports of call...hair braiding tends to be mostly Jamaica and Bahama's, and I don't remember any in Labadee (as it's private).

 

In any case, it tends to be $2 to $3 PER BRAID....so when a local says "braid for $2?" keep in mind the amount of hair! Figure, maybe $40 or so. Also, watch your time...it's probably not a good thing to squeeze in after a day of excursions with 45 minutes left to get back onboard. Also expect some attempts to sell you a photo op. Best rule of thumb: Ask, don't be shy, and be willing to say "no".

 

On signs: I *just* got off Explorer of the Seas, and there were signs on cabin doors for anniversaries, and honeymooners, which I think the crew probably put there. In any case, there were publicly displayed "Philadelphia Phillies" signs in room windows facing into the Royal Promenade, and they stayed up there. I was sort of suprised at that. If your sign is tasteful or of a sports nature, I'd suggest give it a try, but consult with your cabin attendant, who will greet you shortly after your luggage arrives at the room.

 

I believe the cabin doors are steel. They *may* be aluminium, but from a fire safety standpoint, and the way they slam shut, I'm thinking steel.

 

Hope that helps.

[Goes211]

Thank you for all the info! I have made custom "plastic" signs for our first cruise. We have adjoining rooms and I wanted to identify them somehow to make it easier for the kids to find. I could have put magnets or tape on the back of them so I just wanted to be sure.

 

As for the braiding, she is very excited about it and has very long hair! So I will be sure to get a final time/price before I have it done.

 

Thanks again!

[lori450]

My apologies, I must have had a brain burp, of course RCI owns Coco Cay - I went there on the Majesty.

 

The doors are definitely metal. I just returned from the FOS and had two magnetic signs on my door. No problem.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Thank you for all the info! I have made custom "plastic" signs for our first cruise. We have adjoining rooms and I wanted to identify them somehow to make it easier for the kids to find. I could have put magnets or tape on the back of them so I just wanted to be sure.

 

As for the braiding, she is very excited about it and has very long hair! So I will be sure to get a final time/price before I have it done.

 

Thanks again!

 

Goes, just to be safe you might want to bring your own comb and demand that they use it :) The last thing you want to deal with while on vacation or post vacation is hair lice...

 

###

[wannalottadough]

Hey we are going on the liberty this Sat also. We have a M&M planned with lots of fun people, check it out here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=552846&page=98

 

Can't answer your question about where to get her hair braided but I heard a story once about someone being quoted a price for braiding and then they were told that the beads would be extra:rolleyes:. So yeah just beware and definitley bring your own comb and insist they use it.

[OPSoccermom]

Enjoy your first cruise!

 

My DD has had her hair braided several times. As of this summer, they do not do it on the ship, and in all honesty, considering how over-inflated the fees are in the salon and spa, the cost would be really high anyway.

 

If you're on an eastern itierary, my DD has had her hair braided on the private island as well as in St Thomas. As others have said, the price is usually by the braid, and you'll be surprised how many braids there are if the do the whole head.

 

Also keep in mind that braiding a whole head takes a bit of time. If you are on your first cruise, consider how much time you want to devote to braiding, and ask the person how much it will cost and how long it will take.

 

I did not allow my daughter to have her hair done in Nassau - the ladies there looked pretty scary and I've heard several stories of girls gettinglice in Nassau.

 

Last of all, make sure she remembers to use sunblock on her scalp after the braiding is done. A sunburned scalp is painful and coming home with a peeling scalp is probably not the look she's hoping for.

[MKRacing66]

Goes211,

 

I'm going to bet you that the sign to find the cabin should be on YOUR DOOR, not the kids! Lol..they'll know every square inch of the ship in a day!

 

Here's a typical discussion between my wife and I on a big RCCL ship:

 

Her: Cabin is left, right?

Me: We are starboard, center. Go right.

Her: Left, Right?

Me: Starboard, just go that way.

Her: So Left?

Me: Right

Her: OK

Me: No, go Right

Her: You said Left

Me: Follow me

Her: It's day 6. I hope to get this by the end

[Goes211]

LOL!!! :D Ok, so the sign is for our door and not the kids...I didn't want say that DH and I may find ourselves stumbling back from the casino every now and again and not being very clear on where to go??? I just told the kids that I made the sign for them out of the kindness of my heart:rolleyes: Now, just to avoid getting caught:o

 

Soccermom and others...thanks for all the tips!!! I will be sure to bring my own comb and get some of that clear non-oily sunblock spray for her head...I don't want her getting a burn on her head!

 

I will also go check out the M & M. It is probably a little late at this point, but would be nice to know if there will be any older kids (13 -16 ) on Liberty next week.

Thanks again!!!

[Merion_Mom]

We are sailing on Liberty on Saturday for our first cruise ever! I have poured through many of the threads and have enjoyed reading everyone's experiences. I do have 2 questions that I haven't seen here though

 

1) My 15 yr old daughter would like to get her hair braided somewhere on our trip... we are doing the Eastern Caribbean. If so, do you know how much they might charge? I know her girlfriend had her hair braided in "Cocoa Quay" (sp?)on the Disney Cruise last year by a local???

 

2) Can you put signs on the outside of the stateroom doors? If yes, can I use magnets or would I have to tape them on?

 

Thank you, we are very excited to be leaving soon

Cher

 

Doors are metal, so magnets work great.

 

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to the braiding question. I do know they vary and I have seen some people bring their own comb so it is more sanitary. P.S. coco cay is a princess island - disney's is castaway cay and RCI has labadee) I know I've seen people get braids on the western itinerary, don't remember too much about eastern, though.

 

Actually Coco Cay and Labadee are BOTH RCL islands. Princess Cay is Princess's island and Half moon Cay is used by Carnival's brands.

 

 

ACTUALLY.................

 

CocoCay is an island in the Bahamas but Labadee is a peninsula of the country of Haiti on the island Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic.